New research by mental health organization Sapien Labs shows half of young people worldwide have experienced a decline in mental health and deterioration of their connectedness to others after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Harvard Business Review.
As a leader who faces a challenging labor shortage, how can you ensure your youngest employees receive the support they need and can effectively build relationships in the workplace? Harvard Business Review offers the following recommendations.
- Make mental health a priority. Focus on mental health in your company’s policies and programs. This could include covering therapy costs or offering a stipend for mental health services, as well as offering competitive pay and expanded family leave policies.
- Build your community when onboarding new employees. Onboarding is an opportunity to show new employees you offer a culture of mutual support and well-being. Make a point to focus on creating relationships and connections from the beginning.
- Offer coaching. Employees thrive in environments where they can learn and grow. You could consider providing coaching sessions with external professionals, career workshops or peer-mentoring programs, which have been shown to create meaningful connections for employees.
